That
contest called Miss Universe is definitely any girl's Walk of Fame. That image above is definitely not any girl's Walk of Fame. That is Cat's Walk. That is Tondo, Manila, one of the poorest places in the
Philippines. That is before 17
December 2018, before Cat became Miss
Universe 2018.
Cat's Walk is especially for the poor. Cat's wish for this
year, and years after? Free education for children who belong to poor families (Catalina
Ricci S Madarang, 17 December 2018, " Miss Universe Catriona Gray’s Heart
For Underprivileged Filipino Children," Interaksyon, interaktv.interaksyon.com).
94
Miss Universe contestants in Thailand walked singly the path to fame; onstage, Cat
walked with 104 million Filipinos. 93 other Miss Universe contestants were not
so lucky; 104 million Filipinos were so lucky!
That's my favorite Shade of Gray: A universal win
for the local losers.
Belle
says Cat's "Beauty With A Purpose Project" is Paraiso: The Bright Beginnings Project (GigTrooper, 18 December
2018, "10 Things You Didn't Know About Catriona Gray," gigtrooper.com).
She has been raising funds for preschool classrooms for the children of Smokey Mountain in Tondo, where all
kinds of trash is dumped, now looking half as bad (see again image above,
courtesy of Cat). Walk softly, you're
treading on my heart.
Paraiso is Filipino for Paradise – personally, I know it's both
Tagalog and Ilocano; I'm a teacher, so I'm going to follow up on "Bright
Beginnings" from now on. You have to start the children well, especially
the poor.
Dom
Galeon says "Miss U Spends Brief Visit With Kids In Tondo" (23 December
2018, Manila Bulletin, news.mb.com.ph),
her call on the Tondo-based Young Focus
International organization. Last
November, Cat released her music single "We're In This Together" and
the next day, it peaked at #1 in iTunes Philippines.
All proceeds of the music video go to Young Focus, which aims to help children
and communities in Tondo.
Yes,
among other skills, Cat sings quite well. See, in Cairns, Queensland, where she
was born, she starred at the local production of Miss Saigon; she sang "Take a Bow" in Rachel French
Rising Star Awards and she was awarded People's
Choice.
When
Cat thinks of women, she thinks of beauty, of children, of community. In the Binibining
Pilipinas 2018 contest, Cat was asked, "After the devastating war – Marawi
is now on its way to recovery, what will be your message to the young women of
Marawi?" Cat's answer is good for all women everywhere:
My answer and my message to the women is to
be strong. As women, we're the head of the household and we have amazing
influence not only in our families, as mothers, sisters, and friends, but also
in our community. If we could get the women to stay strong and be that image of
strength for the children and the people around them, then once the rebuilding
is complete and is underway, the morale of the community will stay strong and
high.
Cat's
Walk is for us to be beautiful, especially women, children and community.
This Cat was made for walking!517
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